Multiple valve manifold for use with a pressure processing apparatus

Abstract

A valve manifold for use with a pressure sensing apparatus such as a differential pressure transmitter, the manifold being characterized by a simplified passageway system internally of the manifold and by reduced size relative to prior art manifolds, the manifold having valve chambers defining valve seats, each of the valve seats being located within a referenced prison defined by mounting holes having axes which are generally perpendicular to first and second, parallel faces of the manifold.

I claim: 
     
       1. A valve manifold for use with a pressure sensing apparatus, comprising, in combination: (a) an integral body including a first face section, a second face section generally parallel with the first face section and a peripheral section extending between the first and second face sections;   (b) a process fluid inlet port means in said second face section and a process fluid outlet port means in said first face section, said process fluid outlet port means being complementary with inlet ports of an associated pressure sensing apparatus;   (c) a plurality of apparatus mounting holes provided in said first face section and disposed about the periphery of the first face section, for receiving bolts operatively securing the pressure sensing apparatus to said first face section;   (d) said apparatus mounting holes having axes generally perpendicular to said first face section, said axes defining sides of a reference prism having ends coplanar with said first and second face sections, at least some of said axes being coincident with corners of said reference prism;   (e) a plurality of valve mounting bores, each bore extending from a point on said peripheral section inwards of the body;   (f) each valve mounting bore including a threaded outer end portion at said peripheral section and a coaxial, generally cylindrical valve chamber defining an inner end portion of the bore,   (g) said inner end portion including a valve seat coincident with an outlet of an upstream section of a respective passageway into the respective valve chamber;   (h) said valve chamber further communicating through a port provided in a side wall thereof, with a downstream section of the respective passageway; wherein   (i) the valve seat of each of said valve chambers is located within a space delimited by said reference prism.     
     
     
       2. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the periphery of the body is multilateral and wherein the instrument mounting holes are generally at corners of the periphery of the body. 
     
     
       3. The manifold of claim 1, including five said valve mounting bores and further comprising vent outlet port means disposed in said second face section. 
     
     
       4. The manifold of claim 3, wherein the process fluid inlet port means is a pair of inlet ports having centres disposed on a first reference line coincident with said second face section, and the vent outlet port means is a pair of outlet ports the centers of which are disposed on a second reference line coincident with said second face section and intersecting the first reference line at generally right angles, the point of intersection of the reference lines being disposed generally centrally of said second face section. 
     
     
       5. The manifold of claim 3, wherein the process fluid inlet port means is a pair of inlet ports having centers disposed on a first reference line coincident with said second face section, and the vent outlet port means is a pair of outlet ports having centers disposed on a second reference line coincident with said second face section and generally parallel with the first reference line. 
     
     
       6. The manifold of claim 2, in which the peripheral section includes a plurality of generally planar wall portions disposed at an angle to one another, one of said wall portions comprising a pair of said valve mounting bores generally parallel with and spaced from each other, said pair of said mounting bores: (a) being equidistantly spaced from said first face section, having each generally the same length of said threaded outer end portion but having cylindric valve chambers of uneven lengths, the axes of said pair of the valve mounting bores being generally parallel with said first face section;   (b) the communication port of each valve chamber of said pair of the valve mounting bores being disposed near an associated valve seat and being remote from the associated threaded outer end portion;   (c) each valve chamber being compatible with a valve assembly including a valve stem threaded in a bonnet compatible with said threaded outer end portion and having a valve closing member at a free end of the stem, for engagement with the respective valve seat, the valve stem further including a seal for sealing engagement with the respective cylindric valve chamber, said seal being disposed at a location of the stem axially spaced both from the closing member and from the bonnet, whereby the bonnet can be devoid of a sealing engagement and thus of a reduced overall diameter.   
     
     
       7. The manifold of claim 6, wherein each valve mounting bore of said pair is provided with a valve assembly including a valve stem threaded in a bonnet compatible with the threaded outer portion and having a valve closing member at a free end of the stem, for engagement with the respective valve seat, and a seal for sealing engagement with the respective cylindric valve chamber, said seal being disposed at a location of the stem between the closing member and the bonnet, the bonnet being devoid of a sealing engagement with the stem and thus being of a reduced overall diameter. 
     
     
       8. The manifold of claim 7, wherein an outer end of the stem of said valve assembly remote from the valve closing member is shaped for engagement with a complementary torque transmitting tool. 
     
     
       9. The manifold of claim 8, wherein said outer end of the stem is of a hexagonal configuration. 
     
     
       10. The manifold of claim 6, wherein a third valve mounting bore is provided in said one of said side walls, said third valve mounting bore: (a) being generally parallel with said pair of said valve mounting holes;   (b) being disposed between said pair of said mounting holes and at a closer spacing from one of said face sections;   (c) having its threaded outer end portion and its valve chamber of diameters larger than those of said pair of said valve mounting holes;   (d) having the valve seat closer to said one of the side walls than the distance from said one of the side walls from the valve seat of any of said pair of valve mounting bores;   (e) being compatible with a valve assembly including a bonnet with a seal secured to a stem of the third valve, said seal being disposed within the bonnet, and sealingly engagement the bonnet.   
     
     
       11. The manifold of claim 10, wherein said pair of valve mounting bores are vent valve mounting bores and said third valve mounting bore is an equalizer valve mounting bore. 
     
     
       12. The manifold of claim 11, wherein a block valve mounting bore is provided in each of two further generally planar side walls of the body, said further side walls being two opposed side walls and being each at an angle to said one of said side walls, and said block valve mounting bores being of generally the same size as that of said third valve mounting bore. 
     
     
       13. A valve manifold for use with a pressure sensing apparatus, comprising, in combination: (a) an integral body including a first face section, a second face section generally parallel with the first face section, and a peripheral section extending between the first and second face sections;   (b) a process fluid inlet port means in said second face section, and a process fluid outlet port means in said first face section, said outlet port means being complementary with inlet ports of an associated pressure sensing apparatus;   (c) vent outlet port means disposed at said second face section;   (d) a plurality of peripheral apparatus mounting holes provided about the periphery of the first face section, compatible with bolts for operatively securing the associated pressure sensing apparatus to the body at said first face section thereof, the axes of said apparatus mounting holes being generally perpendicular to said first face;   (e) a plurality of valve mounting bores each said bore being machined in said peripheral section and having an axis directed inwardly of the body for selectively manipulating passage of fluid through passageways provided in said body.   
     
     
       14. The manifold of claim 13, wherein the peripheral section comprises a plurality of generally planar side walls disposed at an angle relative to one another, one of said walls being provided with a pair of vent valve mounting bores generally parallel with and spaced from each other, said vent valve mounting bores: (a) being equidistantly spaced from said first face section;   (b) having each generally the same length of said threaded outer end portion but having cylindric vent valve chambers of uneven lengths, the axes of the vent valve mounting holes of said pair of vent mounting holes being generally parallel with said first face section;   (c) each vent valve chamber including a communication port disposed in a side wall of the vent valve chamber, the communication port being disposed near a vent valve seat at an inner end of the vent valve chamber and being remote from the associated threaded outer end portion;   (d) each vent valve chamber being located in conduit means extending between the process fluid outlet port means and the vent fluid outlet port means.   
     
     
       15. The manifold of claim 14, wherein each of said pair of said vent valve mounting bores is provided with a vent valve assembly including a vent valve stem threaded in a bonnet compatible with the threaded outer portion and having a vent valve closing member at an inner end of the vent valve stem, for engagement with the respective vent valve seat, and a seal mounted on said stem and sealingly engaging the cylindric vent valve chamber, said seal being disposed at a location of the vent valve stem axially between the vent valve closing member and the vent valve bonnet, the vent valve bonnet being devoid of a sealing engagement with the vent valve stem and thus being of a reduced overall diameter. 
     
     
       16. The manifold of claim 15, wherein an outer end of the vent valve stem remote from the vent valve closing member is shaped for engagement with a complementary torque transmitting tool. 
     
     
       17. The manifold of claim 16, wherein said outer end of the stem is of a hexagonal configuration. 
     
     
       18. The manifold of claim 14, wherein a third valve mounting bore is provided in said one of said wall sections, said third valve mounting bore: (a) being generally parallel with said pair of said vent valve mounting bores;   (b) being disposed between said pair of said vent valve mounting bores and at a different spacing from the first or second face section than that of said vent valve mounting bores;   (c) having a threaded outer end portion and a valve chamber of diameters larger than those of said pair of said vent valve mounting bores;   (d) having the valve seat of its valve chamber closer to said one of the side walls than the distance from said one of the side walls to the valve seat of any one of said pair of vent valve mounting holes, whereby the valve seats of said vent valve mounting bores and of said third valve mounting bore are disposed each at a distinct distance from said one of the side walls;   (e) being compatible with a valve assembly which includes a bonnet which is provided to engage a seal between the bonnet and the valve stem of the valve.   
     
     
       19. The manifold of claim 18, wherein said third valve mounting bore is an equalizer valve mounting bore. 
     
     
       20. The manifold of claim 19, wherein a block valve mounting hole is provided one in each of two further generally planar side walls of the body, said further side walls being two opposed side walls and being each at an angle to said one of said side wall sections and said block valve mounting holes and valve chambers being of generally the same size as that of said third valve mounting holes, whereby the manifold is capable of operation of a five-valve manifold. 
     
     
       21. A valve manifold for use with a pressure sensing apparatus, comprising, in combination: (a) an integral body including a first face section, a second face section generally parallel with the first face section and a peripheral section extending between the first and second face sections;   (b) process fluid inlet port means in said second face section, process fluid outlet port means located in said first face section and being complementary with inlet ports of an associated pressure sensing apparatus, and vent outlet port means in said second face section;   (c) a plurality of apparatus mounting holes provided in said first face section and disposed about the periphery thereof, for receiving bolts operatively securing the pressure sensing apparatus to said first face section;   (d) a plurality of valve mounting bores, each extending from a point on said peripheral section inwards of the body, each valve mounting bore including a threaded outer end portion at said peripheral section and a coaxial, generally cylindrical valve chamber defining an inner portion of the valve mounting bore;   (e) an inner end portion of the valve chamber including a valve seat coincident with an outlet of a first passageway into the respective valve chamber;   (f) said valve chamber further communicating, through a port provided in a side wall thereof, with an inlet of a second passageway; wherein   (i) a first portion of said plurality of the valve mounting bores is compatible with a bonnet sealed valve of the type including a valve stem passing through a bonnet having an outer thread compatible with said threaded outer end portion of the bore and provided with a seal between the bonnet and the valve stem; and   (ii) a second portion of said plurality of the valve mounting bores is compatible with a valve chamber sealed valve of the type including a valve stem passing through a bonnet having an outer thread compatible with said threaded outer end portion of the bore and devoid of a seal between the bonnet and the valve chamber, a seal being provided between the valve stem and the valve chamber, said seal being spaced axially inwards of the bonnet but axially outwards of the port provided in the side wall of the valve chamber.     
     
     
       22. The valve manifold of claim 21, wherein said first portion of said plurality of the valve mounting bores includes valve mounting bores for blocking valves for selectively blocking fluid communication between said inlet and outlet port means and said portion of said plurality of the valve mounting bores includes vent valve mounting bores for selectively opening or closing vent discharge ports of the manifold. 
     
     
       23. The valve manifold of claim 21, wherein (i) said first portion of said plurality of the valve mounting bores includes two blocking valve mounting bores each compatible with a blocking valves for selectively blocking fluid communication between said inlet and outlet port means and one equalizer valve mounting bore compatible with an equalizer valve for interconnecting two process fluid passages between the inlet and outlet port means to equalize the pressure at the outlet port means; and   (ii) said second portion of said plurality of the valve mounting bores includes vent valve mounting bores for selectively opening or closing vent discharge ports of the manifold.   
     
     
       24. The valve manifold of claim 23, comprising two process fluid inlet ports and two vent discharge ports, all located in said second face section, said peripheral section being comprised of a number of generally planar side walls generally perpendicular to the faces of the manifold, wherein said equalizer valve mounting bore and two said vent valve mounting bores are all provided in one of said planar side walls. 
     
     
       25. The valve manifold of claim 24, wherein the axes of the equalizer valve mounting bore and of the two vent valve mounting bores are parallel with each other and with the faces of said manifold, the axes of the vent valve mounting bores being disposed in a plane parallel with the faces of the manifold and spaced from a plane parallel with said faces and coincident with the axis of the equalizer valve mounting bore. 
     
     
       26. The valve manifold of claim 25, wherein the process fluid inlet port means is a pair of inlet ports having centers disposed on a first reference line coincident with said second face section, and the vent outlet port means is a pair of outlet ports having centers disposed on a second reference line coincident with said second face section and generally parallel with the first reference line, the valve chambers of the vent valve mounting bores being of an even length which is greater than that of the valve chambers of the first portion of said plurality of the valve mounting bores. 
     
     
       27. The valve manifold of claim 25, wherein the process fluid inlet port means is a pair of inlet ports having centers disposed on a first reference line coincident with said second face section, and the vent outlet port means is a pair of outlet ports the centers of which are disposed on a second reference line coincident with said second face section and intersecting the first reference line at generally right angles, the point of intersection of the reference lines being disposed generally centrally of said second face section, and wherein the valve chamber of the vent valve mounting bores are of an uneven length, each vent valve mounting bore being longer than any one of the valve chambers of the first portion of said plurality of the valve mounting bores. 
     
     
       28. The manifold of claim 22 wherein an outer end of the vent valve stem remote from the vent valve closing member is shaped for engagement with a wrench or the like tool. 
     
     
       29. A valve manifold for use with a pressure sensing apparatus, comprising, in combination: (a) an integral body including a first generally planar face section, a second generally planar face section generally parallel with the first face section, and a peripheral section extending between the first and second face sections and including two opposed, planar, outer side walls perpendicular to the face sections, a planar front wall and an opposed, planar rear wall, said front and rear walls being perpendicular to the face sections and to the side walls;   (b) a process fluid inlet port means in said second face section and a process fluid outlet port means in said first face section, said process fluid outlet port means being complementary with inlet ports of an associated pressure sensing apparatus;   (c) vent outlet port means in said second face;   (d) a plurality of apparatus mounting holes provided in said first face section and disposed at a close spacing from the periphery of the first face section, for receiving bolts operatively securing the pressure sensing apparatus to said first face section said apparatus mounting holes having axes generally perpendicular to said first face section;   (e) five valve mounting bores, each extending from a point on said peripheral section inwards of the body and each including a threaded outer end portion at said peripheral section and a coaxial, generally cylindrical valve chamber defining an inner portion of the bore,   (f) said valve chamber being provided, at an inner end portion thereof, with a valve seat coincident with an outlet of an upstream section of a respective passageway into the respective valve chamber;   (g) a side wall of said valve chamber being provided with an outlet port coincident with a downstream section of a respective passageway leading out of the respective valve chamber;   (h) said passageways being formed by a plurality of straight passageway sections communicating with one another, with said port means and with said valve chambers; (i) said passageway sections being so disposed and arranged that each passageway section is parallel with at least said faces or said side walls or said front and rear walls, whereby the machining of said passage sections is facilitated.       
     
     
       30. The valve manifold as claimed in claim 29, wherein the periphery of said faces is rectangular, said axes of the instrument mounting holes being disposed at the corners of the rectangular periphery, the valve seat of each of said valve chambers being located within a space delimited by said axes of the mounting holes. 
     
     
       31. The valve manifold as claimed in claim 29, wherein said five valve mounting bores are comprised of (i) two valve mounting bores, one in each of said side walls; and   (ii) three valve mounting bores, all provided in one of said front or rear walls, each valve mounting bore extending from a point on the respective wall inwards of the body.   
     
     
       32. The valve manifold of claim 31, wherein (a) the axes of said two valve mounting bores and of one of said three valve mounting bores are disposed on a first reference plane parallel with said face sections;   (b) the axes of the remaining two of said three valve mounting bores are disposed on a second reference plane parallel with said first face and more remote therefrom than said first reference plane, one to each side of the axis of the first of said three valve mounting bores.   
     
     
       33. The valve manifold of claim 32, wherein said two of said three valve mounting bores are vent valve mounting bores. 
     
     
       34. The manifold of claim 33, wherein each said vent valve mounting bore is provided with a vent valve assembly including a vent valve stem threaded in a vent valve bonnet compatible with the threaded outer end portion of the respective one of vent valve mounting bores, and having a vent valve closing member at a free end of the stem, for engagement with a vent valve seat of the respective vent valve chamber, and a seal for sealing engagement with the vent valve chamber, said seal being disposed at a location of the stem axially between the vent valve closing member and the vent valve bonnet, the vent valve bonnet being devoid of a sealing engagement with the stem and thus being of a reduced overall diameter. 
     
     
       35. The manifold of claim 34, wherein an outer end of the vent valve stem of said vent valve assembly remote from the valve closing member is shaped for engagement with a complementary wrench or the like torque inducing tool.